# US 11,026,709 B2 · Mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,709 B2 - Document ID: US11026709B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/397,089 - Filed: 2019-04-29 - Published: 2019-11-07 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-28 - Assignees: Stryker Corporation - Applicants: Stryker Corporation - Inventors: E. Skott Greenhalgh; Michael P. Wallace - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026709B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/221: Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets {for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions (surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056)} - A61B 10/04: Endoscopic instruments, e.g. catheter-type instruments - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/22: Implements for squeezing-off ulcers or the like on inner organs of the body; Implements for scraping-out cavities of body organs, e.g. bones; for invasive removal or destruction of calculus using mechanical vibrations; for removing obstructions in blood vessels, not otherwise provided for - A61B 17/22031: {Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi (A61B17/221 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00292: {mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means} - A61B 2017/00358: {Snares for grasping} - A61B 2017/00778: {Operations on blood vessels (A61B2017/22097, A61B2017/320741 take precedence)} - A61B 2017/00862: {elastic or resilient} - A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect} - A61B 2017/22038: {with a guide wire} - A61B 2017/22044: {with a pointed tip} - A61B 2017/22079: {with suction of debris} - A61B 2017/2215: {having an open distal end} - A61B 2017/306: {holding by means of suction} - A61B 2017/3435: {using everted sleeves} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Methods and apparatuses for mechanically removing objects from a body. In particular, described herein are thrombectomy methods and mechanical thrombectomy apparatuses for removal of blood clots from within a lumen of a blood vessel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mechanical thrombectomy apparatus for removing a clot from a vessel, the apparatus comprising: a catheter having a distal end, a distal end opening, and an inner diameter; a knit tube extending through the catheter and doubling back over the distal end of the catheter, wherein the knit tube is configured to invert over the distal end opening when a first end of the knit tube is pulled proximally within the catheter, wherein the knit tube is biased to have an outer diameter when inverted within the catheter that is greater than half the inner diameter of the catheter when the knit tube is pulled proximally from within the catheter so that an outer portion of the knit tube slides over an outside of the catheter to invert over the distal end opening, further wherein the knit tube forms a distal-facing lip where the knit tube inverts over the distal end opening, the distal-facing lip having a larger outer diameter than an outer diameter of the outer portion of the knit tube proximal to the distal-facing lip; and a puller extending within the catheter, the puller having a guidewire lumen configured to pass a guidewire, wherein the first end of the knitted tube is attached to the puller. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the catheter is configured to be compressed proximally so that it flares out. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the knit tube is configured to radially compress 20% or less when the knit tube is pulled around the outside of the catheter distal end and into the catheter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the knit tube is configured to radially compress between 5-20% when the knit tube is pulled around the outside of the catheter distal end and into the catheter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal-facing lip has a tangential angle of between 10-60 degrees with respect to the long axis of the catheter outer diameter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal-facing lip has a tangential angle of at least 10 degrees with respect to the long axis of the catheter outer diameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the knit tube is coupled to a distal end region of the puller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the knit tube has a porosity that is greater than 85%. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the knit tube has a pore pattern having a longitudinal separation between pores of less than about 0.005 inches in width. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the puller comprises a hypotube that is slidably disposed within the catheter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the knit tube is biased so that the outer diameter of the knit tube when inverted and unconstrained is greater than the inner diameter of the catheter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the knit tube is between 3 to 50 cm long. ### Claim 13 A mechanical thrombectomy apparatus for removing a clot from a vessel, the apparatus comprising: a catheter having a distal end, a distal end opening, an outer diameter and an inner diameter, wherein the distal end of the catheter is configured to be compressed proximally so that it flares out at the distal end; a knit tube extending through the catheter and doubling back over the distal end of the catheter, wherein the knit tube is configured to invert over the distal end opening when a first end of the knit tube is pulled proximally within the catheter, wherein the knit tube is biased to have an outer diameter when inverted within the catheter so that is the knitted tube radially compresses 20% or less when the knit tube is pulled around the outside of the catheter distal end and into the catheter so that an outer portion of the knit tube slides over an outside of the catheter to invert over the distal end opening, further wherein the knit tube forms a distal-facing lip where the knit tube inverts over the distal end opening, the distal-facing lip having a larger outer diameter than an outer diameter of the outer portion of the knit tube proximal to the distal-facing lip; and a puller extending within the catheter, the puller having a guidewire lumen configured to pass a guidewire, wherein the first end of the knitted tube is attached to the puller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the knit tube is configured to radially compress between 5-20% when the knit tube is pulled around the outside of the catheter distal end and into the catheter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the knit tube has a porosity that is greater than 85%. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the knit tube has a pore pattern having a longitudinal separation between pores of less than about 0.005 inches in width. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the puller comprises a hypotube that is slidably disposed within the catheter. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the knit tube is biased so that the outer diameter of the knit tube when inverted and unconstrained is greater than the inner diameter of the catheter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the knit tube is between 3 to 50 cm long. ### Claim 20 A mechanical thrombectomy apparatus for removing a clot from a vessel, the apparatus comprising: a catheter having a distal end, a distal end opening, an outer diameter and an inner diameter, wherein the distal end of the catheter is configured to be compressed proximally so that it flares out at the distal end; a knit tube extending through the catheter and doubling back over the distal end of the catheter, wherein the knit tube is configured to roll and invert over the distal end opening when a first end of the knit tube is pulled proximally within the catheter, wherein the knit tube is biased to have an outer diameter when inverted within the catheter that is greater than half the inner diameter of the catheter when the knit tube is pulled proximally from within the catheter so that an outer portion of the knit tube slides over an outside of the catheter to invert over the distal end opening, further wherein the knit tube forms a distal-facing lip where the knit tube inverts over the distal end opening, the distal-facing lip having a larger outer diameter than an outer diameter of the outer portion of the knit tube proximal to the distal-facing lip; and a puller extending within the catheter, the puller having a guidewire lumen configured to pass a guidewire, wherein the first end of the knitted tube is attached to the puller.